Really, really sharp; looks to me like it will reach or exceed sensor resolution on both A99ii and A68, in macro and in normal ranges. Perhaps some diffraction loss after f/16, and corner falloff in sharpness wide open on full-frame.

Some purple fringing on sharply defined high-contrast edges well away from center.

Beats both the excellent compared-to lenses for sharpness, if you look closely enough. For any of these lenses, I see issues only when pixel-peeping into images from high-res sensors; they are unlikely to be noticed in normal viewing, and are mostly easy to fix in post-production (LR).

Unbeaten sharpness, great Minolta colours, bokeh, extremely versatile despite its macro designation. I like the extra "reach" I get on the APS-C SLT-A57, but its also insanely sharp on the SLT-A99.

negative:

Slow AF can hunt when not range limited, narrow MF ring. Has gathered significant internal dust which appears in shots when stopped down the closer you get to 1:1

comment:

I never knew my SLT-A57 was capable of such sharp imagery until I put this lens on for the first time - my other Maxxum lenses make very sharp pics on my A57 (and A99), but this pixel sharp monster lens takes it to a whole nutha level! Even without decent lighting I've managed to shoot super sharp 1:1 macro shots (even 2:1 with a X2 TC). Then of course you can step back and shoot the sharpest portraits or mid-tele shots you're likely to see on your Sony/Minolta! Its AF can be slow when not limited, and the MF ring is narrow, but those little quirks aside it is a very well built lens with best-of-breed stunning optics. Distortion? What is that?

That's the lens I take for portraits and otherwise for top technical quality if 100mm suits.

I won't be long, as I think 100mm Macros are all exceptionnaly good, so here it is : it's just perfect, always.
I believe compared to others this one has a slight advantage with the often mentionned Minolta colors, rendering exceptionnal colors and contrast provided there's a nice light.

AF can be a bit slow at times but i think it's normal for a 100mm Macro.

Exceptional colors
Stunning sharpness
Build to last decades together (3 decades and counting!?)
Focus limiter a great boon

negative:

Focusing can be frustrating in low light

comment:

Amazing lens. Surprised at how very few official reviews are found online for this great lens. Colors are phenomenal (I started to realise what Minolta colors meant after I took a few shots). Great value for money. The only frustration has been the slow focusing speed in low light. But understandably it is a macro so I can live with it. The focus limiter is a great feature to focus quicker.

Overall, I can't complain at all. I want to use it more as a prime as well, but the slow focus makes me hesitant to always mount it on my A58. So I am using it as prime/macro for all my day time usage, and only use it for special macro shots in low light and avoid using it as a prime in low light. So glad I found this gem!

I have no other lens to compare this to. I can say I will never use the macro switch on my Minolta 35-105 ever again though.

price paid:

220 GBP

positive:

Everything
sharpness
colours
Built in the days when things were made to last.

negative:

none.

comment:

This lens is just stunning. I rarely use digital now and this has almost become my "go to" lens with film for anything from bugs to landscapes lol. Mostly in manual focus but even when I use autofocus it does a good job of keeping up with my dyanx 600si in continuous focus mode.
Friends have asked for more enlargements of my photos with this lens than any other. Taken me a while to get nice bokeh with close up ish shots but gosh, when it's right the effect can look just like a painting.
If you like macro (or any other kinda stuff really) and see one of these for sale, don't think about it just buy it. This is the one lens I have that I just wouldn't want to live without.

This lens is positively remarkable. Sharp sharp, did I say sharp? Colors are Maxxum magic, every bit the equal of my 200 2.8 in all regards.

negative:

I haven't found anything other than perfection...

comment:

The Macro of course is to die for, but the amazing surprise it what an incredible high performance mid range telephoto this lens is. Stunning actually, with the limiter on it rocket focuses, coupled with my Maxxum 200 2.8 white magic they make a formidable pair!!
I got this in mint nearly unused condition for $20 at a yard sale in a camera bag of multiple Maxxum film bodies and other gear. Steal of the decade I think!

This lens is noticeably sharper than any of the other lenses i have used on digital. You don't have to view full screen or zoom in to perceive it. The only other one I have that comes close is the Cosina.

Much harder work to focus than the Cosina at macro distances (less dof i guess), but far more versatile (the cosina only gives 1:2 without it's matched 1:1 converter, which I don't have). The A77 peaking mode and focus magnifier really helps with this though.

The limit switch was already loose when I bought it. I suppose this is a risk one takes when buying these old lenses.

Usable sharp at f2.8 but i think f3.5 ideal for portraits. I think the 50mm 1.7 suits my style better on APS-c for this though. I really should try it out on film.

Edit: It's difficult for me to try and describe the subtle differences one sees in images made with this lens on full frame as opposed to APS-c sensor. Simply put, this lens is capable of making beautiful images on either format, but those full frame can be very seductive.

color
contrast
sharpness
The lens seemed to balance well on both my A77 & A900.

negative:

The focus ring is pretty thin. Also, on my A77 the focus peaking didn't seem to show as much as with my new lenes. I don't know if this was the lens or me [I'm new to focus peaking] but I could tell a difference compared to my 16-50 and Sigma 50mm f1.4.

Also, there was a little CA in the images, but thats pretty normal with these older Minolta lenses and is easily fixed in Lightroom.

comment:

I really enjoyed this lens while I had it. I paid $349 used through KEH. [EX condition] I returned it mostly because the AF was inconsistent on my A77 & A900. When manual focus was used though it was perfect.

I know Macro's are best used with manual focus, but it was still an issue that I noticed. Another reason I returned the lens was for an extra $100 I can get a new Tamron 90mm macro and a six year warranty. I wont know if this was a good decision or not until I get the Tamron.

For close up photography the lens did a great job [manual focus] I uploaded a few samples in the sample forum. The IQ was very good for sure.

I have been waiting for one of these to show up for sale for over a year - I finally got one last month. It is all that I expected and more. I have the Sony 50 2.8 Macro but really like a little more working distance that the 100mm provides on my full frame A900.

I used to have a very expensive Zeiss 100mm f2.0 planar on a 21 meg Canon 5DII. This lens is sharper, in my opinion, and the colors actually more saturated. The Bokeh with this lens is Spectacular. All in all a great buy if you can find a clean one. I must admit mine looked new - amazing, since they stopped making them in 1986 I think!

Had a looooooong thought about getting this lens. In the end I found one I could afford and bought it. Never looked back! Not the walk around lens, although when used as such it makes you think in a different perspective before you snap the picture.

My copy has a rattling AF, but works 100%. Lets see how far we get......

(edit 18-2-13) the autofocus completely locked-up, the lens is impossible to use, even in MF)
Now looking for a Tamron 90 Macro.......... (-;

This is, by far, the sharpest lens I own. The Minolta 85mm F1.4 comes very close from F4, but the 100 macro is simply sharp everywhere, and its flat field of focus keeps more of your subject in focus when wide open.

I have no complaints at all about this lens, it is an absolute delight on my A77, with adequate focus speed (it is a macro, after all), excellent build and a size and weight that really compliments the A77 and makes for an outstanding general use, as well as macro lens.

As much as I love my 85mm F1.4, if I could only keep one prime lens (my Sony 16-50MM would be my one and only lens), it would be the 100 macro.

Excellent value for money. Beautiful smooth bokeh. Very sharp in all apertures. Excellent for low-light photograpy on a budget.

negative:

As can be expected from a lens of this stature - focus hunt.

comment:

Excellent value for money. Beautiful and pleasing smooth bokeh. Very sharp in all apertures. Excellent for low-light photography on a budget. I have used this lens in quite dim lighting with quite good results, however, the "focus hunting" can be frustrating at times.

I have no complaints though, since I paid just a fraction of any other lens of this caliber.

Picked this lens up for £75 gbp .Bargain.
Absolute legend of a lens. Sharp! how sharp? very.Even wide open at f2.8 my copy is sharp
Colours are typical of Minolta (beercan) type lens.
The Bokeh is amazing .

some people say that the focusing is slow ,i havent noticed this as yet on my sony a700,but there again this is a macro lens , like many have said in the past, macro is best used in manual focus mode.

The only fault is the lens cap.Really needs a centre pinch one so the hood can be removed easily ,but like i say no big deal.

All in all a fantstic lens ,if you have the chance to buy one ,go for it .you won't be dissapointed

I just love this lens. More than 20 years old, it still amazes me with almost every picture. If you are into macro photography, this is what you want to get. Maybe the AF is a bit faster in the newer versions, but hey... it's a macro lens! Very highly recommended!

very sharp and very solid build
very little chromatic aberration almost non existing
very good bokeh

negative:

it extends when focusing but not much else

comment:

A very fun lens to use. Focus is decent with the focus limiter I even managed to do some action shots. Very sturdy well build lens with extreme sharpness from f4 upwards. It also turned out as a very good lens for portraits having an amazing bokeh at f2.8. Also minimum focusing distance is quite decent and can do some photos of insects without scaring them away.

Gotta get used to lens hood / lens cap / focus ring design as it is kinda puzzling at first since you cannot use them all as the lens hood is in the way but once you've figured that one out, you're good to go and capture light with a very good lens.

Just like the beercan the focus ring is inaccessible with the hood backwards.
Lens cap

comment:

I dont know what Minolta was thinking when they designed with lens caps or the position of the focu ring. I always end up replacing the lens caps with center pinch third party caps and the lens hoods with screw on rubber ones.

These are just minor things that bug me for some reason however like I said it is a simple fix that cost about $15 per lens.